Collecting pieces of Minnesota's past for the future
About
The Minnesota Historical Society preserves and makes available a wide range of materials chronicling Minnesota's history and culture. The goals of the Collections Department are to collect and preserve; provide access and interpretation; and engage in education and outreach. This blog is a tool to share these stories and let people know what is happening in the department.
Valentine
This Victorian-era paper valentine was made in Minnesota between 1890 and 1900.
Learn more about traditions of dating and romance in the Gilded Age tomorrow, Feb. 9 at 7 pm in the virtual presentation "Victorian Love Lives" offered by the James J. Hill House and Alexander Ramsey House. Free, but registration is required.
ID: 9476.2 (Accession Number)
Item link: http://collections.mnhs.org/cms/display?irn=10579639
Minneapolis-Saint Paul Black Music Awards certificate
For 40 years, the Minnesota Black Music Awards has recognized some of the top musical talent in the area and would recognize world-renowned performers such as Prince, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, among countless others. At the first awards event in 1982, honorees received a silver-toned certificate like this one from our collections.
ID: 1999.122.5 (Accession Number)
Link: http://collections.mnhs.org/cms/display?irn=10394171
Hastings Needle Work catch stitch embroidery sample
Embroidery is an art form that features prominently in several cultures and across eras. The Minnesota Historical Society has many fine examples in our collection, which we will share over the next few weeks in recognition of National Embroidery Month. Our first sample is this piece of embroidery demonstrating technique — and which has a description of itself also embroidered on the fabric!
ID: 1982.25.141.3 (Accession Number)
Link: http://collections.mnhs.org/cms/display?irn=10598224
Black History Month pamphlet
This pamphlet from 1988 promoted Black History Month events in several West Metro suburbs and schools, including a talk with Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Gwendolyn Brooks and a performance by Paul Robeson.
ID: 991.139.332 (Accession Number)
Link: http://collections.mnhs.org/cms/display?irn=10250389
Boys waiting for groundhog on Ground Hog's Day, St. Paul
Today is Groundhog Day! According to tradition, if the groundhog sees his shadow upon emerging from his den, we will have six more weeks of winter. In 1945, these boys apparently decided to take matters into their own hands, we presume bringing along the umbrella and box to block the sun.
ID: GT4.9 p9 (Locator Number)
Link: http://collections.mnhs.org/cms/display?irn=10705884
David Durenberger, United States Senator
We mourn the passing of former US Senator David Durenberger, who represented Minnesota from 1979-1995. His signature issues were health care, the environment, and the Americans with Disabilities Act. He was also the author of the MNHS Press book "When Republicans Were Progressive," published in 2018. This photo portrait from our collections was taken in 1979, as he began his senatorial career.
ID: por 22733 p1 (Locator Number)
Link: http://collections.mnhs.org/cms/display?irn=10782855
1942 St. Paul Winter Carnival ice palace melting
Today's Winter Carnival item is a photo of the partially constructed 1942 St. Paul Winter Carnival ice palace melting during an unusually warm January.
Item ID: M.17.F.1 Packet 38 (Locator Number)
Link: http://collections.mnhs.org/cms/display?irn=11124391&return=brand%3Dcms%26q%3Djanuary%26startindex%3D26
St. Paul Winter Carnival Button
Today's Winter Carnival item is a button featuring the Ice Palace and a polar bear in a clown costume. The button reads, "MID-WINTER / 1970 / MAGIC / SAINT PAUL WINTER CARNIVAL". Manufactured by Western Badge Company, St. Paul, 1970.
Item ID: 70.23.1 (Accession Number)
Link: http://collections.mnhs.org/cms/display?irn=10294142&return=q%3Dwinter%2520carnival%26startindex%3D101
Winter Carnival Parade
Today's Winter Carnival item is a photo of the 1940 parade as it passed the Cathedral. This year's King Boreas Grande Day Parade will be held tomorrow, Jan. 28 in downtown St. Paul.
Item ID: MR2.9 SP9.1 1940 m4 (Locator Number)
Link: http://collections.mnhs.org/cms/display?irn=10716776
St. Paul Winter Carnival
The St. Paul Winter Carnival begins today! Over the next two weeks, we'll be sharing some of our favorite and little-seen Winter Carnival items from our collection. Today we go back 35 years to 1988, when this postcard showing was created.
ID: MR2.9 SP9.1 1988 r2 (Locator Number)
Link: http://collections.mnhs.org/cms/display?irn=10463562